Chapter 14 - The Video From Maine
Charles had recorded Jonathan.
Not the accident.
The argument.
Apparently Charles sometimes recorded meetings for leverage.
The video was captured on his phone the night before Jonathan died.
He later transferred it to an encrypted archive.
Celeste discovered the archive while helping organize trust files.
She copied it.
Insurance.
Against Charles.
Stored on her silver laptop.
Thomas Reed now had it.
Why?
Celeste explained.
“Thomas works for Charles.”
“Still?”
“I think so.”
Marcus went pale when he heard.
His own brother had remained loyal to the man Marcus now helped investigate.
Authorities located Thomas at a motel near Albany.
He fled before they arrived.
The silver laptop remained missing.
Then Thomas called Marcus.
Not Adrian.
Marcus put the call on speaker with investigators listening.
“Tom.”
“You sold me out.”
“You entered a protected residence during an active investigation.”
“I took what belongs to Charles.”
“The laptop belongs to Celeste.”
“Same thing.”
“What do you want?”
Thomas laughed.
“I want you to remember who gave you that job.”
“I earned it.”
“Charles gave it to you after Dad died.”
Marcus went still.
Their father had worked private security.
Adrian hadn't known Charles helped Marcus enter Blackwood service.
Everything had roots.
Thomas continued.
“Charles took care of us.”
“He used us.”
“Same thing when you're poor.”
Marcus's face tightened.
“What is on the video?”
“You know.”
“No.”
Thomas hesitated.
“The truth about Jonathan.”
Adrian stepped closer to the phone.
“This is Adrian.”
Silence.
Then Thomas laughed.
“The prince.”
Marcus looked furious.
Adrian remained calm.
“Send the video.”
“Why?”
“Because my father is dead.”
“So?”
“Because whatever Charles promised you is over.”
“No.”
“He is in custody.”
“He'll get out.”
“Maybe.”
“He always does.”
Not this time, Adrian thought.
But promises were cheap.
“What do you want?”
“Five million.”
Marcus shook his head.
Adrian said:
“No.”
Thomas laughed.
“Then you don't want the truth.”
“I already have truth.”
“No, you have Rusk.”
“What do you have?”
Thomas's voice changed.
“Jonathan saying Charles was finished.”
Adrian's heart tightened.
“What else?”
“Charles saying if Jonathan removed him, Adrian would never control the reserve.”
That was financial motive.
Already known.
“Not worth five million.”
Thomas became irritated.
“There is more.”
“Then give it to law enforcement.”
“Why would I?”
“Because withholding evidence in a federal investigation is going to make your life worse.”
Silence.
Adrian continued.
“And because Charles doesn't care about you.”
“You don't know that.”
“He kept my father's watch for nine years after Dad asked him to give it to me.”
Silence.
“He used Celeste.”
Nothing.
“He used Martin.”
Nothing.
“He used your brother's loyalty.”
Marcus looked at Adrian.
“He will use your prison sentence too.”
Thomas disconnected.
But Adrian had heard something.
Breathing changed when the watch was mentioned.
Thomas didn't know.
Charles compartmentalized everyone.
That was how conspiracies survived.
Nobody held the whole story.
Thomas called again four hours later.
“I'll give you the laptop.”
“In exchange for money?”
“No.”
“What?”
“Protection.”
“From Charles?”
Silence.
“Yes.”
Thomas surrendered through an attorney.
The laptop was recovered.
The video survived.
Adrian watched with investigators.
Jonathan stood in the Maine house.
Alive.
Angry.
Charles paced.
Jonathan:
The reserve was created for Adrian because I don't trust what you'll do with unrestricted control.
Charles:
I built that portfolio.
Jonathan:
You managed it.
Charles:
Same thing.
Jonathan:
No.
Adrian closed his eyes.
The same argument generations later.
Management mistaken for ownership.
Charles:
You always give him everything.
Jonathan:
He's my son.
Charles:
I'm your brother.
Jonathan:
Then act like one.
Charles's face twisted.
If you remove me tomorrow, I swear you'll regret it.
Jonathan:
The documents are signed. You're finished.
Charles stepped closer.
You think Adrian can do what I do?
Jonathan answered:
He doesn't have to. He only needs to know when someone he loves has become dangerous.
The video ended.
Adrian sat motionless.
His father had been talking about Charles.
But the sentence belonged to Adrian too.
Celeste.
Martin.
Henry.
Every warning he explained away because love made danger inconvenient.
Then investigators found another video in the archive.
Timestamp:
5:02 a.m.
The morning Jonathan died.
Charles at the dock.
Alone.
Kneeling beside the boat engine.
His hands disappeared beneath the access panel.
When he stood, he looked toward the house.
May you like
Then walked away.
The evidence was no longer only circumstantial.
